What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that can have long-term effects. It can affect anyone who has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, and its effects can be pervasive in a person's life. Thankfully, there are many effective treatments for PTSD that can help individuals reclaim their lives and move forwards on the path to recovery.

According to National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 3.6% of U.S. adults had PTSD in the past year.

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd

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Symptoms may include:

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• Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories or dreams of the traumatic event

• Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world

• Hopelessness about the future

• Memory problems

• Difficulty maintaining close relationships

• Feeling detached from family and friends

• Being easily startled

• Always being on guard for danger

What are some causes of PTSD?

• You can develop post-traumatic stress disorder when you go through, see or learn about an event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violation.

• Doctors aren't sure why some people get PTSD. As with most mental health problems, PTSD is probably caused by a complex mix of:

• Stressful experiences, including the amount and severity of trauma you've gone through in your life

• Inherited mental health risks, such as a family history of anxiety and depression

• Inherited features of your personality — often called your temperament

• The way your brain regulates the chemicals and hormones your body releases in response to stress

How do you treat PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment can help you regain a sense of control over your life. The primary treatment is psychotherapy, but can also include medication. Combining these treatments can help improve your symptoms by:

• Teaching you skills to address your symptoms

• Helping you think better about yourself, others and the world

• Learning ways to cope if any symptoms arise again

• Treating other problems often related to traumatic experiences, such as depression, anxiety, or misuse of alcohol or drugs

You don't have to try to handle the burden of PTSD on your own.